Mon State government issued an order for closure of Kyaiktiyo Pagoda festival to alleviate concerns for coronavirus in the country.
The announcement came after the meeting of Mon State government yesterday. The closure of the festival takes effect on 21 March.
“Although no announcement was made, the number of visitors to the Golden Rock significantly declined. Passenger vehicles to the pagoda will not run from 21 March.” said U Soe Myint, Director of Mon State government.
The pagoda festival regularly ends on full moon day of Kasone, but this year’s closure comes one and a half months earlier.
“Until 17 March a lot of pilgrims visited the Golden Rock, but the number of visitors to the pagoda today (18 March) significantly decreased. Only seven passenger vehicles, with some vacant seats, arrived at the pagoda this afternoon.” U Soe Myint said.
Before climbing up the mountain, each visitor’s health condition and body temperature were checked. The closure of the festival is part of the COVID-19 preventive measures, he added.
Ma Thida, a shop owner from the top of Mount Kyaikhtiyo, said the shops on the mountain were preparing to close since the number of visitors dramatically decreased yesterday. She also estimated that the number of visitors yesterday was less than 300.
U Soe Hlaing, deputy head of the Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda’s board of trustees, said, “We have been checking the body temperature of pilgrims since 16 March. We installed hand wash basins, and regulated passenger cars to take the disinfection procedures”
“We will implement precautionary measures in accordance with the relevant ministries’ instructions.” he added.
On 16 March, more than 6,000 local visitors and over 90 foreign tourists visited the Mon State’s well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site.
On 17 March, the number of visitors to the pagoda declined to some 2,400 local pilgrims and 43 foreign visitors.
People visiting the pagoda significantly decreased yesterday.
The pagoda festival is annually held from full moon day of Thadingyut to full moon day of Kasone.
Khin Yadana/Hein Htet Zaw
(Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)
Photo: Khwar
Ref:  The Global New Light of Myanmar